Handsaw capable of cutting glass bottle, method for manufacturing the same, and method for re-using empty wine bottle

ABSTRACT

A handsaw capable of cutting a glass bottle includes a band-like handsaw substrate which is obtained by cutting a steel strip at a predetermined length, a blade portion of hard abrasive applied, by deposition, to at least one edge of the band-like handsaw substrate in the width direction, and a grip portion which allows the band-like handsaw substrate to be manually held. A method for manufacturing a handsaw capable of cutting a glass bottle, and a method for reusing empty wine bottles are also disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a handsaw which can be used to cutglass, such as a glass bottle, a method for manufacturing the same, anda method for re-using an empty wine bottle.

2. Description of the related Art

Wine bottles, come in various colors and designs, having stylish labels,which enhances enjoyment in drinking the wine contained therein.However, since such wine bottles are formed from colored glass providedin a various range of colors, it is difficult to re-use empty winebottles. As a result, society has to deal with the mounting piles ofempty wine bottles which exist at present.

The Life Products Division of the Life Industry Bureau of the JapaneseMinistry of International Trade and Industry have proposed recyclingempty wine bottles by melting the same to produce ‘ecology bottles’wherein various colors of the wine bottles to be recycled do not matter,and also converting the wine bottles into construction material such asroadbed material for roads. However, the fact that there is no guarantee(agreement) that drink/beverage manufacturers will utilize such ‘ecologybottles’ poses a major problem, and the construction material made fromwine bottles is still at the testing and research stage so that it willtake a long time before such construction material can be put intopractical use. On the other hand, if the bottom portion of a bottle suchas a wine bottle, a “sake” bottle, or a cola bottle can be manually cut,as a do-it-yourself (DIY) project, the cut bottle can be reused as aflowerpot, for example, wherein the cut bottle is turned upside-down.However, a diamond cutter which is commonly used by a glazier to cutplate glass cannot be used to cut a glass bottle.

A file-type cutter and a wire-type cutter are also known in the art as ahandy glass cutter as an alternative to a diamond cutter. In eithercutter, hard abrasive such as diamond abrasive is used. In the file-typecutter, diamond abrasive is applied to a surface of a substrate having awedge-shaped cross section. In the wire-type cutter, diamond abrasive isapplied to a stainless wire. However, in the file-type cutter, it isimpossible to deeply cut glass because of the wedge-shaped section(i.e., it is impossible to cut thick glassware, such as a glass bottle),and in the wire-type cutter, it is difficult for a user to exert astrong force on the cutter because the wire is flexible, or it isdifficult to cut an object along a straight line. Moreover, the wire ofthe wire-type is easily broken.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a handsaw which canbe conveniently and easily used to cut glassware of various shapes, suchas a glass bottle. Another object of the present invention is to providea method for manufacturing such a handsaw.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a utilizingmethod for reusing empty wine bottles without melting the same, and forutilizing the same as a wine bottle planter (e.g., a flower pot).

According to an aspect of the present invention, a handsaw capable ofcutting a glass bottle is provided, including a band-like handsawsubstrate which is obtained by cutting a steel strip at a predeterminedlength, a blade portion of hard abrasive applied, by deposition, to atleast one edge of the band-like handsaw substrate in the widthdirection, and a grip portion which allows the band-like handsawsubstrate to be manually held.

In an embodiment, the grip portion includes a grip body which covers oneend of the band-like handsaw substrate in the length direction thereof,and which is secured to the band-like handsaw substrate.

In an embodiment, the handsaw substrate is provided, on the grip sidethereof, with at least two holes, the grip body being split into twohalves with respect to a center plane of the thickness of the band-likehandsaw substrate, one of the two halves being provided with projectionswhich can be fitted in the corresponding the holes of the band-likehandsaw substrate.

In an embodiment, the grip portion is a hacksaw frame to which the endsof the band-like handsaw substrate in the length direction are secured.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method formanufacturing a handsaw capable of cutting a glass bottle is provided,including cutting a steel strip at a predetermined length to form aband-like handsaw substrate; masking the portion of the band-likehandsaw substrate other than a cutter blade forming portion formed on atleast one edge of the handsaw substrate in the width direction; applyinghard abrasive on the portion of the handsaw substrate other than themasked portion thereof; and dipping the band-like handsaw substrate, towhich the hard abrasive has been applied, in an electrolytic solutiontank to deposit a metal layer in which the hard abrasive is embedded.

In an embodiment, the method for manufacturing a handsaw furtherincludes securing a grip body to one end of the band-like handsawsubstrate in the length direction, upon the band-like handsaw substratebeing subjected to the electrolytic deposition.

In an embodiment, the band-like handsaw substrate is provided, onopposite ends thereof, with holes which are adapted to secure the handsaw to a hacksaw frame.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method forreusing empty wine bottles is provided, the method including cutting abottom portion of an empty wine bottle, and turning the cut the emptywine bottle upside-down so as to be utilized as a wine bottle planter.

The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in JapanesePatent Application No.2000-308833 (filed on Oct. 10, 2000) which isexpressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be discussed below in detail, with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing manufacturing processes of ahandsaw having a grip body before electrolytic deposition, according tothe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing electrolytic deposition of diamondabrasive;

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a cutter blade forming portionupon electrolytic deposition of diamond abrasive being completed;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a band-like handsaw substrate and a gripportion in a disassembled state, wherein the electrolytic deposition iscompleted;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an assembled handsaw being used to cut aglass bottle;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a cut glass bottle which is turnedupside-down and is reused as a flowerpot; and

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of a hacksaw-type handsaw accordingto the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An embodiment of a handsaw capable of cutting a glass bottle and amanufacturing method thereof according to the present invention will bedescribed below. FIGS. 1 through 5 show an embodiment of a handsaw whichis provided at one end thereof with a grip body as a holding portion. Aband-like handsaw substrate 11 is obtained by cutting a stainless steelstrip 10 shown in FIG. 1 at a predetermined length. The ends of theband-like handsaw substrate 11 in the longitudinal direction arepreferably rounded or arch-shaped (chamfered). The band-like handsawsubstrate 11 is provided on one end thereof with two securing holes 12which are spaced at an appropriate distance. The stainless steel strip10 is selected so that the handsaw substrate obtained by cutting thestainless steel strip 10 exhibits appropriate flexibility and hardnessas a handsaw.

The portion of the substrate 11 other than the cutter blade formingportion 11 a, formed at one side of the substrate in the widthdirection, is masked with a non-conductive masking tape 13. The endportion of the substrate 11 on the grip side on which the holes 12 areformed is also masked with the non-conductive masking tape. Namely, thesubstrate 11 is fully masked, with exception to the blade formingportion 11 a which is exposed.

After the band-like handsaw substrate 11 is masked with thenon-conductive masking tape 13, diamond abrasive 14 is provisionallyapplied to the cutter blade portion 11 a. The provisionally applieddiamond abrasive is spread along the edge surface of the cutter bladeforming portion 11 a and along portions of the front and rear surfacesof the substrate 11 within the cutter blade forming portion 11 a. Theprovisional application of the diamond abrasive can be carried out, forexample, by electrolytic plating. The particle size of the diamondabrasive 14 is preferably in the range of approximately 80 to 200meshes.

The band-like handsaw substrate 11, of which the diamond abrasive isprovisionally applied to the cutter blade forming portion 11 a, isthereafter dipped in an electrolytic deposition tank (plating tank) 15,as shown in FIG. 2. The electrolytic deposition tank 15 is filled withelectrolytic solution (solution of nickel compound such as nickelsulfate) 16. In the electrolytic solution 16, a cathode connected to anexternal DC power source 17 is connected to the band-like handsawsubstrate 11 and an anode is connected to a nickel plate 18. In thisstate, when electricity is supplied from the DC power source 17,oxidation and reduction occur at the cathode and anode, respectively.Consequently, nickel is electrolytically deposited (plated) on thecutter blade forming portion 11 a connected to the cathode. Thus, asshown in FIG. 3, a nickel deposition layer (metal deposition layer) 19is formed. The formation of the nickel deposition layer 19 causes thediamond abrasive 14 to be firmly embedded in the nickel deposition layer19. As a result, a blade portion 9 of hard abrasive is deposited in theform of generally u, onto the blade forming portion 11 a of theband-like handsaw 11. The electrolytic deposition can be carried out atone time for a number of band-like handsaw substrates 11.

A grip body 20 shown in FIG. 4 is formed (or machined) independently ofthe electrolytic deposition of the band-like handsaw substrate 11. Thegrip body 20 is made of, for example, synthetic resin, and isconstructed from two halves 21 and 22 which are split with respect to acenter plane of the thickness of the handsaw substrate 11. The grip half21 is provided with two securing projections 21 a which are fitted inthe two holes 12 of the handsaw substrate 11. The other grip half 22 isprovided with two receptacles 22 a corresponding to the securingprojections 21 a. The grip halves 21 and 22 are provided, on theperipheral edges thereof, with inter-engageable projections and recesses21 b and 22 b, respectively. When the projections 21 b and the recesses22 b are engaged, a space is formed between the grip halves in which theend of the handsaw substrate 11 is held. The blade portion 9 of hardabrasive is not provided on the portion of the handsaw substrate 11 thatis covered by the grip body 20. The blade portion 9 of hard abrasive maybe provided on both edges of the handsaw substrate 11 with respect tothe width direction thereof.

The end of the handsaw substrate 11, which has been subjected to theelectrolytic deposition, adjacent to the holes 12 is covered by the griphalves 21 and 22 and the projections 21 a are fitted in the holes 12.Thereafter, the grip halves 21 and 22 are connected through theinter-engageable projections and recesses 21 b and 22 b. As a result, ahandsaw 100 capable of cutting a glass bottle, having the grip body 20at one end can be obtained.

FIG. 5 shows a cutting operation of a bottom portion of a glass bottle200 (wine bottle) using the handsaw 100 thus obtained. As shown in FIG.6, the glass bottle 200 whose bottom has been cut off, can be turnedupside-down and be reused, for example, as a flowerpot.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a handsaw 300 having a body frame in theform of a hacksaw frame 30. As is well known in the art, the hacksawframe 30 is generally in the form of a U-shape. The open end of thehacksaw frame is provided with a stationary pin 31 and a movable pin 32.The movable pin 32 is rotatably supported by the front end of a screwrod 33. When the screw rod 33 is moved in the axial direction through aknob 34, the distance between the stationary pin 31 and the movable pin32 is varied. The handsaw substrate 11′ is provided, on its oppositeends in the length direction, with holes 15 in which the stationary pin31 and the movable pin 32 are fitted. The handsaw substrate 11′ is alsoprovided, on one side thereof in the width direction, with a bladeportion 9 of hard abrasive, which is formed by electrolytic depositionof diamond abrasive 14 as in the above-described embodiment. The bladeportion 9 can be obtained in the same way as that shown in FIG. 2. Inthe hacksaw, the stationary pin 31 and the movable pin 32 are fitted inthe pin holes 15 of the handsaw substrate 11′. Thereafter, when thescrew rod 33 is moved in the axial direction, the handsaw substrate 11′is secured to the hacksaw frame 30. Thus, the hacksaw can be used as ahandsaw in the same way as the grip-type saw in order to cut, forexample, a glass bottle.

Although the metal to be electrolytically deposited on the band-likehandsaw substrate 11 is nickel in the illustrated embodiments, it ispossible to use other metals, such as copper. Moreover, the electrolyticdeposition can be replaced with electroless plating, etc. The diamondabrasive can be replaced with cubic boron nitride (CBN) abrasive, etc.

According to the present invention, not only can the handsaw cut a glassbottle 200 as described above, the handsaw can also be used to cut otherobjects other than the glass bottle.

As may be understood from the foregoing, according to the presentinvention, a handsaw capable of cutting a glass bottle for domestic usecan be obtained.

Obvious changes may be made in the specific embodiments of the presentinvention described herein, such modifications being within the spiritand scope of the invention claimed. It is indicated that all mattercontained herein is illustrative and does not limit the scope of thepresent invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A handsaw capable of cutting a glass bottle,comprising: a band-like handsaw substrate formed by cutting a steelstrip to a predetermined length; a blade portion of hard abrasiveapplied, by deposition, to at least one edge of the band-like handsawsubstrate in a width direction; and a grip portion which allows theband-like handsaw substrate to be manually held, said grip portioncomprises a grip body which covers one end of the band-like handsawsubstrate in the length direction thereof, and which is secured to theband-like handsaw substrate, wherein said handsaw substrate is provided,on the grip side thereof, with at least two holes, said grip body beingsplit into two halves with respect to a center plane of the thickness ofthe band-like handsaw substrate, one of the two halves being providedwith projections which can fit in the corresponding said holes of theband-like handsaw substrate.
 2. The handsaw according to claim 1,wherein said grip portion comprises a hacksaw frame to which the ends ofthe band-like handsaw substrate in the length direction are secured.